Le divisament dou monde (Il Milione) Rustichello da Pisa/ Marco Polo

Purportedly written at Marco Polo’s direction by Rustichello de Pisa while in prison at Genoa, the Divisament dou monde is a medieval travel narrative that recounts Macro Polo’s journey to the East. Le Divisament, literally the ‘description’ or possibly ‘division’ of the world, presents the world in which he traveled—the Middle East, Turkistan, India, and China—through a fantastical lens, full of oddities and imaginary phenomenon. But, alongside these fantastical images that captured the European imagination are the observations of the everyday that Polo recorded: detail on local religions, language, currency, goods, and rituals. Although only one Franco-Italian manuscript survives, Bibliotheque National 1116, careful study of the manuscript tradition by Simon Gaunt suggests that there was at least one other Franco-Italian redaction circulated during the early fourteenth century.

We welcome input and suggestions for these collaborative projects. Use this form to send us your recommendations and we will happily consider including them. Information with citations is especially welcome.